AVANT – Media Distancia
In December 2004 a new medium distance service (AV Media Distancia operating under the 'Lanzadera' brand) began between Seville and Córdoba using new S-104 trains,reducing journey times between the two cities to 40 minutes. In 2005 the brand was renamed RENFE Avant and a further service was launched: Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
The construction of a 21-kilometre (13 mi) stretch of high speed line from Madrid to Toledo allowed the inauguration of a medium distance service in November 2005. The journey time between the two cities is now less than 30 minutes. The high speed link combined with high property prices in Madrid has encouraged many Madrid commuters to settle in Ciudad Real, the first stop on the Madrid–Seville line.
There has, however, been controversy over the construction of this line as the change to standard gauge track meant that large towns such as Getafe, Aranjuez and Algodor, which now has no commercial services, lost their direct services to Toledo. Furthermore since Toledo is now connected by standard gauge track it is impossible for other passenger or goods trains to reach it that haven't come from other high speed lines.
Further Avant services have been launched with the expansion of the AVE to Valladolid and Barcelona. See below for details of all Avant services.
Madrid–Barcelona
The Madrid–Zaragoza–Barcelona line was inaugurated on 20 February 2008, after parts of the line had operated since 2003 (Madrid–Zaragoza–Lleida) and 2006 (Lleida–Tarragona). Seventeen trains run now every day between 6:00 and 21:00 hrs. This line is currently one of the world's fastest long-distance trains in commercial operation,[4] with non stop trains covering the 621 km (386 mi) between the two cities in just 2 hours 38 minutes, and those stopping at all stations in 3 hours 23 minutes.
Madrid–Valladolid
The Madrid–Segovia–Valladolid line was inaugurated on December 22, 2007. It Includes a tunnel of 28 kilometres (17 mi) at Guadarrama, which is the fourth longest train tunnel in Europe. Valladolid will become the hub for all AVE lines connecting the north and the north west of Spain with the rest of the country. Trainsets used on this line include S120 (max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)), Talgo S130 (Patito, max speed 250 km/h (155 mph)) and the S102 (Pato, max speed 320 km/h/199 mph).
Trains
Currently, there are several series of High speed trains that run the AVE service:
S/100, manufactured by Alstom
S/102, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
S/103, manufactured by Siemens, marketed globally under the brand Siemens Velaro
There are also other series of trains that are considered high speed, but don't run under the AVE name. They run under the brand Alvia, and are variable gauge trains. They can run on High speed lines at a maximum of 250 km/h (155 mph), and can also change between standard and Iberian gauge lines without stopping. The trains that are operated under the Alvia brand are:
S/120, manufactured by CAF and Alstom
S/130, manufactured by Talgo and Bombardier
Operational services
Currently the Spanish high speed network is made up of the following services:
AVE Madrid–Seville via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, and Córdoba.
AVE Madrid–Valladolid via Segovia.
AVE Madrid–Barcelona via Guadalajara, Calatayud, Zaragoza, Lleida and Tarragona.
AVE Barcelona–Seville via Zaragoza, Córdoba and Madrid.
AVE Barcelona–Málaga via Zaragoza, Córdoba and Madrid.
AVE Madrid–Huesca via Guadalajara, Calatayud, and Zaragoza.
AVE Madrid–Málaga via Ciudad Real, Puertollano, Córdoba, and Antequera.
AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Ciudad Real–Puertollano.
AVANT (mid distance) Madrid–Toledo.
AVANT (mid distance) Málaga–Córdoba–Seville via Antequera and Puente Genil
AVANT (mid distance) Segovia–Madrid.
AVANT (mid distance) Calatayud–Zaragoza
AVANT (mid distance) Zaragoza–Huesca
AVANT (mid distance) Barcelona–Lleida
ALVIA [5] (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Irún, via Valladolid, Burgos and San Sebastián.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Bilbao, via Valladolid and Burgos.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Santander–Alicante, via Madrid and Valladolid.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Gijón–Alicante, via Valladolid and Madrid.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Madrid–Logroño.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Irún, via Zaragoza, Pamplona and San Sebastián.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Bilbao, via Zaragoza and Logroño.
ALVIA (mixed high speed-conventional) Barcelona–Vigo, via Zaragoza, Pamplona, Vitoria, Burgos, Palencia and Leon. With connection services to Gijón in Leon and to A Coruña in Monforte de Lemos
The central hub of the AVE system is Madrid's Puerta de Atocha, except for the Valladolid line, which terminates at Chamartin Station.
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